The CITB needs urgent reform. Its own accounts show that most grants go to large businesses. That’s because they have the staff to do the endless paperwork required. Most of our clients don’t have that luxury, yet they still train their workforce at their own expense.
If this sounds like you, we’re here to help.
Everyone – even the CITB itself – agrees that reform is necessary. So does the government. Construction relies on medium, small and micro-sized businesses, and we think it’s high time things changed for the better for the firms.
There are two opportunities to get the change you want. One is the government consultation, which is a once-in-a-lifetime chance to have your say. The other is the CITB’s ‘consultation process’. These are two different things and both are important.
The government is consulting on how the construction industry can best attract and train people. It wants to hear from businesses large and small, up and down the country. This is the first time since 1982 that the government has looked into this in detail.
So if you care about these issues, it is vital that you take part in the government’s consultation. This is the chance of a lifetime to change the system, ensure fair provision of training, and end the CITB’s ridiculous money-go-round of taking from the small to give to the large.
The consultation looks at a number of different issues, spread over 9 questions. The types of things they want to know are:
We know that your time to fill in forms is limited, but this will be a lot simpler and quicker than applying for a CITB grant. If you would like any advice on filling out the consultation, please email Ian Anfield.
Every three years, the CITB must ask the government to approve its collecting a levy. The Secretary of State for Education, the Rt Hon. Justine Greening MP, will decide this year whether or not the CITB can collect a levy in 2018. As part of this process, the CITB must prove that it has the support of the industry.
The CITB is about to begin its process for proving that such support exists. The CITB largely avoids direct engagement with firms, but there are still several ways in which you can have your say.
If you would like to know more information about our work fighting for a better, fairer training system, please contact Ian Anfield, Managing Director of Hudson Contract
Read the independent research on training that we commissioned
Consensus Federations